The mayor of Anchorage on Monday vetoed a ban against discrimination based on sexual orientation, saying it was unclear that such discrimination existed.
The ordinance, which would have prohibited such discrimination in employment, housing, education and other areas, was approved by the Anchorage Assembly last week on a 7-to-4 vote. Eight votes are necessary to override a mayoral veto.The Assembly’s approval of the ordinance, a topic of impassioned public debate at its meetings for much of the summer, followed decades of efforts to pass similar measures. Mr. Sullivan’s father, George Sullivan, who also served as mayor, vetoed an initial proposal in 1976. Then, as now, the ordinance met with vocal opposition among Christian conservatives.
“This ordinance was going to force small-business owners particularly to accommodate people who choose a certain lifestyle,” said the Rev. Jerry Prevo, pastor of the Anchorage Baptist Temple and a leader of the measure’s opponents.
“Once you give special rights to homosexuals,” Mr. Prevo said, “then the next step is you legalize homosexual marriage and so forth.”
The measure’s supporters dismiss the argument that there is no evidence of discrimination, noting that there is no formal means under current law for gay men and lesbians to file complaints.
“The mayor uses interesting circular logic,” said Patrick Flynn, an Assembly member who sponsored the proposal.
Another member who supported it, Sheila Selkregg, said the issue had become entangled by questions like whether employers could prohibit men from using women’s restrooms and whether they would have to provide separate restrooms for transgender people.
Jerry Prevo's weekly televised Sunday morning TV sermon, which is broadcast accross the state of Alaska on the ABC television network of channels was used as a propaganda machine to spread lies and confusion about Gays, Lesbians and Transpeople, as well as the proposed ordinance that would simply extend the basic rights that all other Alaskans and American enjoy. Click on the links below to see his televised rant.
A History of Ordinence 64 from the Anchorage Daily News
Assembly makes no move to override gay rights veto The first opportunity for the Anchorage Assembly to override Mayor Dan Sullivan’s veto of an ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation went by Tuesday night without action.
MayorSullivan vetoes gay rights ordinance A long, grinding, contentious political and social struggle hit a major bump Monday when Mayor Dan Sullivan vetoed the Assembly's latest attempt to ban discrimination against gay people in Anchorage.
Hundreds of people who spent hours in Anchorage Assembly meetings to argue about a proposal to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation are taking their cases to Mayor Dan Sullivan, who must decide today wohether to veto the ordinance.
Mayor still deciding on gay rights veto Mayor Dan Sullivan said Wednesday he is studying the anti-discrimination ordinance passed by the Anchorage Assembly and will announce later whether he will veto it.
Sullivan: No immediate decision on gay rights measure Mayor Dan Sullivan says he is studying the anti-discrimination ordinance passed Tuesday night by the Anchorage Assembly and will announce later whether he will veto it.
Assembly OKs gay rights ordinance 7-4 By a 7-4 vote, the Anchorage Assembly Tuesday approved a compromise ordinance that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity -- one vote short of the supermajority needed to override a mayoral veto.
Assemblyman says city needs gay rights task force An Anchorage Assembly member wants his colleagues to create a task force that would spend at least a year investigating questions surrounding a controversial proposal to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Claman wants voters to settle gay rights debate The raging public debate about whether Anchorage should add anti-discrimination protections for sexual orientation will continue into next month, and Acting Mayor Matt Claman said Tuesday he may ask the Assembly to put the question on the ballot.
Prospects dimming for gay-rights ordinance The prospect of a gay rights ordinance passing under the watch of a supportive city administration is narrowing as Anchorage Assembly Chairwoman Debbie Ossiander said Friday she will continue to allow public testimony on the controversy but she will not call any extra meetings to get through the days of testimony.
Residents demand to air views on gay-rights amendment Beset by controversy that shows no sign of cooling, Anchorage Assembly chairwoman Debbie Ossiander must decide how to proceed with one of the most time-consuming sessions of public testimony before the Assembly in recent memory.
Gay rights measure's changes criticized by both sides Hundreds of people gathered outside Loussac Library for a second consecutive demonstration Wednesday, and scores lined up to testify at a special session of the Anchorage Assembly on an amendment to the anti-discrimination law that would extend protection to gays and lesbians.
Gay rights ordinance gets 2nd Assembly hearing tonight An ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation is again on the Anchorage Assembly agenda tonight, bearing last-minute changes by the chairwoman in an attempt to make it more palatable to both sides.
The second round of impassioned public testimony Tuesday night drew hundreds of people once more to the Anchorage Assembly meeting as the panel grappled with a proposed ordinance that would ban discrimination in the municipality based on sexual orientation.
Gay rights go before Assembly once again The longest, bitterest argument in Anchorage's social and political experience returns to center stage Tuesday before the municipal Assembly.
City revises gay-rights proposal The city administration has rewritten a proposed law banning discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals to make clear that it wouldn't apply to small, home-operated businesses or to owner-occupied four-plexes or duplexes.
Assembly to revisit gay rights ordinance; Prevo vows fight A proposed ordinance to ban discrimination against gays in hiring, housing and education will be considered by the Assembly next month, reviving an issue that has bitterly divided Anchorage before.
